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{
    "id": 60199,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/60199/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 183,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Musyoka",
    "speaker_title": "The Vice-President and Minister for Home Affairs",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 188,
        "legal_name": "Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka",
        "slug": "kalonzo-musyoka"
    },
    "content": "At that time some of us were saying: “Si kujivunia baliTunavumilia kuwa Wakenya”. I think the time for everybody to feel proudly Kenyan is here with us. Therefore, I want to encourage hon. Members to play their role. As I said, there will be differences of opinion. But those differences of opinion when validly expressed, and with the clear conscience guided only by what is in the best national interest of this country, I am sure they will be understood properly and put in the correct context by the Kenyan people. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, therefore, His Excellency the President needs to be congratulated, because yesterday, he did not come to open a new session. I hope hon. Members realize that we are in a continuing Session. This Session will continue until the end of this House’s term. We, therefore, are not going to have a Fifth Session. Ordinarily, we would be going to the Fifth Session. However, because we did away with provisions of Article 59 of the old Constitution, the President could not even prologue Parliament. This is why this time the Government requested the Speaker to convene this Special Session of Parliament. The President came to address a Special Session of the Tenth Parliament. These are momentous times; what was undertaken yesterday by the President was precedent setting. Clearly, he will have occasion again next year around this time to address a Special Session of Parliament. Therefore, reform is here with us. We cannot take it for granted. We have to ensure that we act collectively. It is very exciting; I think it is also important for Kenyans to understand that with the Grand Coalition Government, there will be people pushing their party ideology and others pushing their own interests. Of course, all of us are very clear now on this. The President said that in less than two years, there will be a general election. I tried to do a quick calculation in my own mind, and I think the President was absolutely smart. All that he said was that before March 2013 there shall be an election. This still leaves this question of when the next general election will be. I think since we met at the Kenya Institute of Administration (KIA), Kabete, many people have been able to see for themselves that clearly elections should properly under this Constitution be held not later than December next year. Although I know my learned friend, Prof. Yash Ghai, wrote a very serious article on this matter, disagreeing with the interpretation by the Commission on Implementation of the Constitution (CIC)--- Whichever way, I think the country will be ready for an election next year. It is important we act urgently. Today, we do not have even delineation of constituency boundaries. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, look at even the bigger challenge of the county assemblies, because there will be county assemblies Members. No Member today can tell me they know what will be the boundaries of each unit to be called the county assembly something. This is different from the current wards. There is a lot of work to be done. Therefore, it is important that we put in place, urgently, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). I think legislation is eagerly awaited in order to be able to move this country forward. It is clear that we are on the right track. Even the President himself in conclusion did refer to the matter of also respecting our own institutions. I think it is important that we have, as quickly as possible, a new Chief Justice. We have in place a Judicial Service Commission (JSC). I think it is important that we move with speed in order to have the new look Judiciary in this country, including a Supreme Court. As a lawyer and an officer of the High Court, I feel so grateful that for the first time, we are going to have a Supreme Court in this country. These are momentous times. When that happens, I hope Kenyans will now begin to have faith and confidence in our institutions. They should believe in the rule of law, separation of power because Parliament is going to be Parliament, the supreme law-making institution with an Executive that will always be held to account by the Kenyan people, and a Judiciary which will be independent. Therefore, even as we now move in that direction, I hope all of us are going to agree that with regard to the very important matter of the ICC trials, we are going to have to have faith in our own institutions, and have Kenyans tried here and not out of this country. I said that I was out on a mission to win, or bring our country back. A number of us did not take that kindly. I want to say that even where there are differences of opinion, the country will understand that some of us act in absolute good faith and are guided only by what is in the best interest of this country. As I conclude my remarks, I want to urge that we realize that if the rains are not sufficient, let us pray that they will be, the people living in northern Kenya, upper Eastern--- My own home district is at the moment seriously threatened with drought. Let us hope that the long rains come because God almighty will shower his blessings on us. If that happens, we will have averted a serious disaster. Our hearts go out to those who are suffering like the people of Japan. Yesterday at the party, the Japanese ambassador was able to mingle with us. All of us felt very strongly that we need to stand in solidarity with the suffering people of Japan. There is a lot of upheaval in the north African countries and in the Arab world. I think it is important that we realize that what is happening elsewhere is important to us in this country. Personally, I prefer a situation where, rather than use brute force to bring about change, we go for negotiations and discussions. Right now, the bombardment of Libya and other places is beginning to look difficult. I think that the way forward even as we encourage Africa, because this is the time for Africa, let us take into account that we should at all times act in a manner that does not make it easy to lose people’s lives. This is me; negotiations every time. Let us avoid war at any given time. Let us push for peace and understand that humanity is the same. I therefore, want to thank you for this opportunity and ask Mr. Githae to, kindly, second this Motion."
}